Barbecue cooker

ABSTRACT

A barbecue cooker of the kettle type which comprises a hemispherical hood or dome-shaped closure and a rounded fire bowl, with hinge means connecting said hood and bowl so as to allow the former to be swung between closed and open condition with respect to said bowl without necessitating disengagement between the same. There is provided within the bowl a cooking grill having a multiplicity of rib members directed inwardly and downwardly toward an inner opening whereby the juices from the meats being cooked will flow toward the said inner opening for flow downwardly therethrough into a receptacle presented therebelow, thus obviating drippings falling on the charcoal with resultant flaring and the like.

United States Patent v w n psg r gi Roe Appl. No. Filed PatentedAssignee BARBECUE COOKER 9 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 99/445, 99/446, 126/25 Int. Cl. A47j 37/07 Field of Search99/444, 339, 375, 400, 408, 421, 425, 443, 446, 447, 448,

450, 1485;126/9, ll, 25, 25 A; 21 1/106, 119, 181; 220/24, 25, 30

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Attorney-Ralph W. Kalish PrimaryExaminer-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-Arthur 0. Henderson DibbleSazegar KaBinQk ilQQ ..L

ABSTRACT: A barbecue cooker of the kettle type which comprises ahemispherical hood or dome-shaped closure and a rounded fire bowl, withhinge means connecting said hood and bowl so as to allow the former tobe swung between closed and open condition with respect to said bowlwithout necessitating disengagement between the same. There is providedwithin the bowl a cooking grill having a multiplicity of rib membersdirected inwardly and downwardly toward an inner opening whereby thejuices from the meats being cooked will flow toward the said inneropening for flow downwardly therethrough into a receptacle presentedtherebelow, thus obviating drippings falling on the charcoal withresultant flaring and the like.

PAIENIEnnmm SHEET 1 OF 6 FIG. 2

PATENTEDUBT12 IQYI SHEET 2 OF 6 MOE ATENTEU our 1 219m SHEET 3 0F 6INVENTORS HAROLD GLASER RICHARD L. KEATS CHARLEY LEACH JERRY D. WOOD BYQM v- 44 ATTORNEY PATENTED 0m 1 2 1911 SHEET 5 [IF 6 FIG. 9

FIG. IO

'PATENTED ucnzlen SHEETSUFG BARBECUE COOKER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates in general to barbecue cookers and,more particularly, to cookers of the kettle type having a swingablymounted closure and means for collecting drippings to prevent contactwith the fuel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barbecue cooker ofthe kettle type having a hemispherical closure and novel hinge meansengaging same so that said closure may be rocked between cooker opencondition and closed condition without requiring displacement of theclosure to a point remote from the bowl as has been required withstructures currently known.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a barbecuecooker of the type stated having novel hinge means for the closure andwith means for maintaining same in open condition so that the user isfree to attend to the cooking operation while the hook is in such state.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a barbecuecooker of the type stated which incorporates a meatreceiving grillhaving inwardly slanted, converging rib members for directing thedrippings toward a central opening for flow therethrough into acollector placed therebelow, thereby inhibiting undesired contact of thedrippings with the particular fuel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a barbecuecooker of the kettle type which embodies a receptacle for spent fuel sothat ashes are collected for facile removal from the cooker withattendant maintenance of the adjacent portions of the cooker in anash-free state.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide abarbecue cooker of the kettle type which is most economicallymanufactured; which possesses a simplicity of parts so as to beresistant to breakdown; which incorporates hinge means for the closurewhich are readily operated by the average household user; and which isdurable and reliable in usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa barbecue cooker constructed in accordance with and embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with the hood in closed condition.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the hood in openposition.

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bushing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bracket shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the grill.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the grate.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating another formof the barbecue cooker constructed in accordance with and embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the hood in openposition.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket shown in FIGS. 11and 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary rear view taken substantially on the line 5-5of FIG. 2 but illustrating another form of the barbecue cooker havingmodified pivot means for the swing arm and means for engaging the legs.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side view taken at 15 in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken on theline 16-16 ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary exploded view taken at 17 in FIG. l4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICAL EMBODIMENTS Referring now by referencecharacters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of thepresent invention, A generally designates a barbecue cooker of thekettle type comprising a substantially hemispherical fire bowl I and asimilarly shaped, domelike or hemispherical closure 2. The lowerperipheral edge, indicated at 3, of hood 2 is receivable upon the upperperipheral edge 4 of bowl 1 when cooker A is in closed condition; saidhood 2 being provided adjacent its lower surface 3 with an offset flange5, the inner face of which will abut the confronting outer face portionof bowl 1 to thereby render the joint between bowl 1 and hood 2substantially airtight when cooker A is in said condition.

Cooker A is provided with a tripodal support, designated S, comprisinglegs 6,6 and 7, which are preferably of tubular stock and having theirends capped; each of which legs at their upper ends are provided withoutwardly bent portions, as at 8, for engagement to the lower portion offire bowl I, as by bolts 9; with the said portions 8 being maintainedagainst undesired shifting by reception within channels 10 developed byspacedapart extensions 11 integral with bowl 1. Legs 6,6 and 7 in theirmain or central portions, as at 12, tend to converge downwardly, beinginterconnected by a stabilizing bracket 13; and are directed outwardly,as at 14, to present relatively substantially lower end sections 15. Theextremities of sections 15 of legs 6,6 are flattened, as at 16, beingtransversely aligned so that apertures drilled therein are inregistration for extension therethrough of an axle 17 carrying wheels18,18 on its projecting ends so as to render cooker A mobile. Section 15of leg 7 is adapted to engage the support surface at its extremity tothereby form a three-point support with wheels 18,18 when cooker A is instationary position, and with the same being removable from detainingcontact with the support surface through rearward rocking of cooker Aabout axle 17 by means of a push bar or handle 19 extending forwardlyfrom bowl 1, being of generally U-shaped with its rearward ends suitablyfixed within brackets 20 carried on opposite sides of bowl 1.

Formed integral with hood 2 and extending laterally outwardly therefromon opposite sides thereof are diametrally opposed tubular bosses 21,each of which is bored throughout its extend, as at 22, for receiving abushing 23 which projects beyond the outer end of the related boss 21and is drilled and tapped to provide an outwardly opening threadedsocket 24 for engaging the stem of a mounting screw 25 (FIG. 4). Theneck of each screw extends outwardly of the proximate boss 21 forprojection through a slotlike aperture 26 formed in the upper endportions of the swing arms 27 of a baillike hinge, indicated generally28. For maintaining screw 25 in preselected disposition within therelated slot 26, the outer end face of bushing 23 is serrated, as at 29,(FIG. 7) for bitingly engaging the confronting surfaces of the proximateswing arm 27 adjacent opening aperture 26, while a washer 30 is disposedabout the neck of screw 25 for disposition against the adjacent outersurfaces of swing arm 27. By appropriate loosening of screw 25 andcommensurate shifting of swing arm 27, the location of screw 25 withinopening 26 may be adjusted for purposes presently appearing.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 5, it will be observed that hinge 28 isformed of suitable rod stock and thus is of circular cross section; theupper end portions of swing arms 27 being flattened for accommodatingapertures 26. Each swing arm 27 proximate its aperture bearing end isbent rearwardly, as at 31, at an angle in the neighborhood of 30 to 40and is directed inwardly, rearwardly, and downwardly for merging into ahorizontal pintle or shaft-forming section 32 which extends tranverselybelow the rearward lower portion of tire bowl 1 and being receivedwithin bearings 33,33 formed in depending lugs 34,34 of brackets 35,35,respectively. Said brackets 35,35 embody semicylindrical portions 36,36,respectively, formed on a radius for disposition against the adjacentleg tions of each swing arm 27 cant slightly outwardly toward 1O bend 31to provide a zone 38 of maximum clearance between swing arms 27 and firebowl I to allow for limited lateral shifting of hinge 28 wherebyshaft-forming section 32 may be moved limitedly reciprocally axially inorder that flattened portions therein, as indicated 39,39, may bedisposed within bearings 33, 33 for permitting withdrawal of saidshaft-forming section 32 from support lugs 34,34 as the cross sectionsof said flattened portions 39,39 permit facile movement of the samethrough the related passages 37,37. By such action hood 2 may thus bedisplaced from fire bowl 1 for disposition at some remote point for anydesired purpose. But with hinge 28 presented to bearings 33,33 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 5, hood 2 is in reliably attached condition,proof against accidental displacement.

Projecting from each side of fire bowl I immediately beneath its upperedge and in its rearward portion are opposed outwardly protrudingfingerlike detents 40 which are of sufficient length so as to protrudeinto the path of movement of swing arms 27 during rearward rocking ofhinge 28 (FIG. 3) engaging same in the region of bend 31 and thusserving as a stop against further rocking.

Thus, in view of the foregoing, it will be seen that hood 2 through useof a handgrip 41 provided on the forward portion thereof may be swungfrom cooker-closed condition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 into openposition by reason of the application of an upwardly and rearwardlydirected force upon handgrip 41. Thus, the shaft-forming section 32 ofhinge 28 will suitably rotate within bearings 33,33 as arms 27 are swungrearwardly until engagement is made with detents 40, at which juncturethe rearward portion of hood 2 will have cleared the adjacent portion offire bowl 1 so that the said hood 2 may thereupon be swung about theaxis established through the axis of screws 25 as bosses 21 rotate aboutbushings 23 whereby hood 2 will approach a substantially verticaldisposition thereby allowing the user full access to the interior ofcooker A for the intended procedures. Hood 2 may be easily returned toclosed condition by downwardly and forward pulling of handgrip 41 with asubstantially reverse action occurring as during the opening operation.As indicated above, adjusting the location of screws 25 within therespective apertures 26 will permit of appropriate control of therelationship between hinge 28 and hood 2.

By the novel mounting of hood 2 the same will at all times during usagebe maintained integrally with cooker A so that the user is spared thenecessity of having to remove the hood and rest same at some convenientlocation spacedly from the cooker during the cooking operation for thepurpose of inspecting the meats being cooked, withdrawing same fromcooker A, or placing raw meats thereon. With kettle-type barbecuecookers, there has been the problem of handling the hood so as to allowfor access to the cooker interior. By the present invention thesedifficulties are overcome and the cooker is rendered more easily usable.In view of the foregoing it is obvious that if for any particularpurpose, such as, for cleaning and the like, the user should desire toentirely remove hood 2 from cooker A, hinge 28 may be withdrawn frombearings 33,33 in the manner above described.

Bowl 1 on its inner face and slightly downwardly from its upperperipheral edge 4 is provided with an integral annular shoulder 42 forsupporting a grill 43 formed of suitable rod stock and comprising anouter ring 44 and an inner, concentric, diametrally relatively reducedring 45 which are interconnected by a multiplicity of radially extendingribs 46 provided circumferentially throughout grill 43; said ribs beingfixed to said rings 44,45 as by welding. In view of the convergence ofsaid ribs 46 at their inner ends, the same are alternatingly cut off sothat every other rib projects beyond inner ring 45 for terminationinwardly thereof with their end margins defining a central opening 47.With reference being made to FIG. 6 it will be seen that inner ring 45is located slightly downwardly of outer ring 43, that is, the planesthereof are parallel, so that ribs 46 will be inwardly and downwardlyinclined toward the inner ends. The center directed, sloping characterof grill 43 conduces to the gravitational flow of drippings from the supported meat into opening 47 for descent into a collector or receptacle48 located downwardly of grill 43 within fire bowl 1 and maintained bymeans now to be described.

Provided for seated disposition upon the lower inner wall portion offire bowl 1 is a brazier 49 formed of suitable sheet stock and having anannular base wall 50 with a central opening 51 surrounded by a shortupstanding flange 52. The sidewall 53 of brazier 49 is providedproximate its upper end with a formed seat 54 for supporting a fuel grid55 which latter, as may best be seen in FIG. 10, is constructed of rodstock and comprises a plurality of concentric annuli, indicatedgenerally 56, with radially provided ribs 57 welded thereto spacedlythroughout the extend of said annuli 56 for integrating said gridcomponents. It is to be seen that the innermost annulus, as indicated at56', of grid 55, is of such diameter as to permit extension therethroughof collector 48 which latter embodies an upper peripheral out-turnedflange 58 for disposition upon the adjacent portions of grid 55 to allowcollector 48 to be suspended therefrom. Collector 48 is axially alignedwith brazier opening 51 and is disposed in overlying relationshipthereto.

It will, accordingly, be observed that in usage the particular fuel,such as, charcoal, will be disposed upon grid 55 surroundingly ofcollector 48 whereby drippings descending into collector 48 from grill43 will follow a path removed from said fuel and thereby avoid undesiredcontact therewith, obviating flaring and like disruptive reactions.

Base wall 50 is presented for receiving the spent fuel or ashes whichdescend through fuel grid 55. Thus, brazier 49 prevents the depositingof ashes upon the inner wall or fire bowl I and promotes ease ofmaintenance of cooker A by reason of ready withdrawal of brazier 49 forcleaning purposes; it being recognized that fuel grid 55 and collector48 may be accordingly withdrawn unitarily with brazier 49 if desired.Thus, brazier 49 is so contoured as to be wedgingly supported upon thelower portion of fire bowl I but spacedly upwardly from the bottomthereof so as to present the fuel in desired relationship to grill 43 aswell as to promote appropriate ventilation by airflow through a damperdevice 59 in said fire bowl 1 and opening 51 for requisite combustion ofthe fuel.

In passing, it may be noted that the unique slope of grill 43, togetherwith the particular relationship of opening 47 and collector 48,provides a means for controlling the flow of drippings so thatheat-producing means other than charcoal, such as, for instance, anelectric coil or a gas burner, could be used with safety.

Damper device 59 is opposed to an identical device, indicated 60,provided in hood 2 with the said devices 59,60 being in a zenith-nadirrelationship with each being supported within an opening 61 formed inthe respective bowl or hood; there being an annular support shoulder 62projecting inwardly of each opening 61 for disposition against its innerand outer surfaces of an apertured plate 63 and a control plate 64,respectively; said latter incorporating a handle 65. Apertured plate 63and control plate 64 are mounted upon a bolt 66 located axially of therelated opening 61 and extending through the central opening 67 of aspacer plate 68 located within the portion of the opening defined by thesupport shoulder 62. Said spacer plate 68 and said control plate 64 aresuitably provided with openings so that in accordance with acceptedpractice manipulation of control plate 64 by handle will permit ofdesired adjustment of airflow.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, A designates a barbecue cooker ofthe kettle type having a fire bowl 1' and hemispherical closure 2' whichare structurally and functionally identical to bowl 1 and hood 2 ofcooker A hereinabove described, so that components of the samecorresponding to like components of said bowl 1 and hood 2 will beindicated by the same reference numerals to expedite comprehension.Integral with hood 2 immediately adjacent its lower peripheral marginand projecting outwardly from diametrally opposed sidewall portionsthereof, equidistant from handgrip 41, are bosses 69. Each boss 69embodies parallel forward and rearward faces 70,71, respectively, and alateral side face 72 therebetween for disposition thereagainst of theweb 73 and side flanges 74,74, respectively, of the channel-shapedmounting bracket portion 75 of a bearing arm 76. Side web 73 is providedwith an aperture 77 for alignment with a tapped opening (not shown) inboss 69 for reception of a retaining screw 78 whereby each bearing armis rigid with respect to hood 2. Said bearing arm 76 extends downwardlyfrom mounting bracket portion 75 to a point spacedly below the lowerperipheral margin of hood 2. Each bearing arm 76 at its lower end is ofhook shape, as at 79, so as to present a bearing surface 79' which iscontinuous with a slotlike recess 80, the upper surface 81 of which isinclined upwardly and rearwardly to define with said hook portion arelatively enlarged mouth 82. Provided on either side of fire bowl 1 andprojecting laterally outwardly from corresponding portions, on oppositesides thereof, and slightly downwardly of its upper peripheral marginare trunnions 83 having a diameter commensurate with the extent ofbearing 79 and less than the cross section of passage 80. Said trunnions83 are so located on fire bowl 1' that when hood 2 is in closedcondition (FIG. 11) the same will be presented spacedly rearwardly ofthe proximate hearing arm 76 and in horizontal alignment with mouth 82thereof.

In swinging hood 2' upwardly by handgrip 41 for opening of cooker A theuser will perforce cause a rearward component of travel to said hood 2'so that by such movement trunnions 83 will be relatively moved intorecesses 80 via mouths 82 whereby as hood 2 is rocked rearwardly surface81 will guide said trunnion 83 into disposition with bearing surface 79'(see P10. 12). In this condition hook 79 engages the related trunnion 83so as to maintain hood 2 upon fire bowl 1' when the former is infull-open condition. Thus, by the simple expedients of trunnions 83 andbearing arm 76 an interengagement is efiected between hood 2 and bowl 1'so as to obviate the necessity of completely detaching hood 2' andsupport same at a remote point.

To return hood 2' to closed condition merely requires a reverseoperation with bearing 79' being moved relatively about the relatedtrunnion 83 and with the final closing action comprehending the expectedforward travel component.

Referring now to FIGS. 14-17, A generally designates a barbecue cookersubstantially identical with cooker A hereinabove except to the extendhereinbelow described; like reference numerals being utilized forcorresponding parts and elements for the purpose of facilitating thisdescription. Cooker A incorporates a hemispherical fire'bowl 1 and ahood 2. integrally cast or otherwise formed with hood 2 at diametrallyopposed locations on its sides are bosses 90, each having an outwardlyopening bore 91 for receiving the pivotforming, intumed upper ends 92 ofa swing arm 27 said latter being in all respects similar to swing arm 27except for the character of the upper end portions thereof. It will beseen that upper ends 92 are of such extent as to be adequately journaledwithin bores 91 so as to allow for facile rocking of hood 2 and to allowof lateral projection beyond hood 2 to assure of proper, unimpededoperation of swing arm 27'. It will be observed that swing arm 27' asmanufactured is of sufficient resiliency to allow of adequate mutualspreading for permitting entry of ends 92 within the respective bores91; and to there by be urged in such relationship by the inherent bias.

Cooker A is supported by legs 7' of the same general character as legs 7hereinabove but each of said legs 7' is provided with a flattened upperend 93 having a substantially central aperture 94. The said flattenedupper ends 93 are received within bosses 95 provided at the requisitelocations on the under portion of fire bowl 1 which bosses 95incorporate a generally rectangular recess 96 within which the saidflattened ends 93 snugly fit, with the side edges of said flattened ends93 abutting against the side and upper walls of recess 96. Centrally ofrecess 96 there is provided a tapped opening 97 for alignment withaperture 94.

Disposed against the underface of the flattened portion 93 of each leg 7is the flangelike extension 98 of a bracket which is fundamentallyidentical with brackets 35, 35' above described, incorporating a bearing33 and connecting passage 37 so as to cooperate with the receivedportion of swing arm 27' in the same manner hereinabove set forth.Flange 98 is centrally drilled to present an opening 99 for alignmentwith aperture 94 and opening 97 for reception of a retaining screw 100.Accordingly, the securing of legs 7' to bowl 1 is easily accomplishedand with the same being held in stable condition during usage.

Having described our invention what we claim and desire to obtain byLetters Patent is:

1. A barbecue cooker comprising means defining an upwardly opening firebowl, means defining a dome-shaped hood adapted for closurewisedisposition upon said fire bowl, hinge means interengaging said bowl andsaid hood for movement of the latter between cooker-opened andcooker-closed condition comprising a pair of swing anns, an interveningshaft portion, means rockably securing said swing arms to said hood, andbearing means provided on said bowl for receiving said shaft portion.

2. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bysaid means engaging said swing arms to said hood being located ondiametrally opposed portions of said hood and incorporating pivot means,and said bearing means being located downwardly of the rear portion ofsaid bowl and presented along a transverse axis.

3. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 2 and further characterized bysaid swing arms having portions extending outwardly of said hood andbowl to permit of limited lateral shifting of said hinge means, meansfor locking said shaft portion within said bearings against accidentaldisplacement upon lateral shifting of said hinge in one direction, andmeans for presenting said hinge for disengagement from said bearingsupon lateral shifting in the opposite direction.

4. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bysaid means securing said swing arms to said hood comprising bossesprovided on opposed sides of said hood and extending laterally thereof,each boss being provided with an outwardly opening axial bore, saidswing anns having at their extremities intumed pivot-forming portionsfor reception within the bore of the proximate boss.

5. A barbecue cooker comprising means defining an upwardly opening firebowl, a grill provided within said fire bowl, means for supporting saidgrill in operative position, said grill having a central opening andwith its adjacent portions sloping downwardly toward said opening andgravitationally directing drippings therethrough.

6. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 5 and further characterized bysaid grill having an outer annular member and an inner annular,concentric member, radial ribs secured at their ends to said inner andouter annular members, said inner annular member being locateddownwardly of said outer annular member so that said ribs inclineinwardly and downwardly toward said inner annular member, the inner endsof said ribs define said central opening through which drippings willgravitationally move, and collector means provided within said fire bowlin alignment with said central opening but downwardly thereof forreceiving drippings passing through said central opening.

7. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 5 and further characterized bya brazier removably positionable within said fire bowl downwardly ofsaid grill, a fuel-supporting grid provided on said brazier, said gridhaving a central opening, and means for collecting drippings from saidgrill provided in said grid central opening and being located invertical alignment with the center of said grill.

8. A barbecue cooker comprising means defining an upwardly opening firebowl, means defining a dome'shaped hood adapted for closurewisedisposition upon said fire bowl, hinge means interengaging said bowl andsaid hood for movement of the latter between cooker-opened andcooker-closed condition comprising a pair of swing arms, an interveningshaft portion, means rockably securing said swing arms to said hood,bearing means provided on said bowl for receiving said shaft portion,said swing arms having portions extending outwardly of said hood andbowl to permit of limited lateral shifting of said hinge means, meansfor locking said shaft portion within said bearings against accidentaldisplacement upon lateral shifting of said hinge in one direction, andmeans for presenting said hinge for disengagement from said bearingsupon lateral shifting in the opposite direction.

9. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 8 and further characterized bysaid means for locking said shaft portion within said bearingscomprising means defining passages con tinuous with said bearings andhaving a cross section less than the maximum cross section of saidbearings and less than the maximum cross section of said shaft, saidshaft having spacedapart portions of reduced cross section forpermitting movement through said passages upon commensurate axialshifting of said shaft.

1. A barbecue cooker comprising means defining an upwardly opening firebowl, means defining a dome-shaped hood adapted for closurewisedisposition upon said fire bowl, hinge means interengaging said bowl andsaid hood for movement of the latter between cooker-opened andcooker-closEd condition comprising a pair of swing arms, an interveningshaft portion, means rockably securing said swing arms to said hood, andbearing means provided on said bowl for receiving said shaft portion. 2.A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bysaid means engaging said swing arms to said hood being located ondiametrally opposed portions of said hood and incorporating pivot means,and said bearing means being located downwardly of the rear portion ofsaid bowl and presented along a transverse axis.
 3. A barbecue cooker asdefined in claim 2 and further characterized by said swing arms havingportions extending outwardly of said hood and bowl to permit of limitedlateral shifting of said hinge means, means for locking said shaftportion within said bearings against accidental displacement uponlateral shifting of said hinge in one direction, and means forpresenting said hinge for disengagement from said bearings upon lateralshifting in the opposite direction.
 4. A barbecue cooker as defined inclaim 1 and further characterized by said means securing said swing armsto said hood comprising bosses provided on opposed sides of said hoodand extending laterally thereof, each boss being provided with anoutwardly opening axial bore, said swing arms having at theirextremities inturned pivot-forming portions for reception within thebore of the proximate boss.
 5. A barbecue cooker comprising meansdefining an upwardly opening fire bowl, a grill provided within saidfire bowl, means for supporting said grill in operative position, saidgrill having a central opening and with its adjacent portions slopingdownwardly toward said opening and gravitationally directing drippingstherethrough.
 6. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 5 and furthercharacterized by said grill having an outer annular member and an innerannular, concentric member, radial ribs secured at their ends to saidinner and outer annular members, said inner annular member being locateddownwardly of said outer annular member so that said ribs inclineinwardly and downwardly toward said inner annular member, the inner endsof said ribs define said central opening through which drippings willgravitationally move, and collector means provided within said fire bowlin alignment with said central opening but downwardly thereof forreceiving drippings passing through said central opening.
 7. A barbecuecooker as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by a brazierremovably positionable within said fire bowl downwardly of said grill, afuel-supporting grid provided on said brazier, said grid having acentral opening, and means for collecting drippings from said grillprovided in said grid central opening and being located in verticalalignment with the center of said grill.
 8. A barbecue cooker comprisingmeans defining an upwardly opening fire bowl, means defining adome-shaped hood adapted for closurewise disposition upon said firebowl, hinge means interengaging said bowl and said hood for movement ofthe latter between cooker-opened and cooker-closed condition comprisinga pair of swing arms, an intervening shaft portion, means rockablysecuring said swing arms to said hood, bearing means provided on saidbowl for receiving said shaft portion, said swing arms having portionsextending outwardly of said hood and bowl to permit of limited lateralshifting of said hinge means, means for locking said shaft portionwithin said bearings against accidental displacement upon lateralshifting of said hinge in one direction, and means for presenting saidhinge for disengagement from said bearings upon lateral shifting in theopposite direction.
 9. A barbecue cooker as defined in claim 8 andfurther characterized by said means for locking said shaft portionwithin said bearings comprising means defining passages continuous withsaid bearings and having a cross section less than the maximum crosssection of said bearings and less than the maximum cross sEction of saidshaft, said shaft having spaced-apart portions of reduced cross sectionfor permitting movement through said passages upon commensurate axialshifting of said shaft.